Aerie Pharmaceuticals announced the appointment of Heather Johnson as Regional Sales Director for the Northeast Region, reporting to Gary Menichini, Aerie’s Vice President of Sales. Johnson will direct the activities of the Company’s district sales managers and territory managers in the Northeastern region of the United States, focused on execution of Aerie’s sales strategies. She previously held related positions at Novartis.
In connection with her acceptance of the position as Regional Sales Director for the Northeast Region, Johnson will receive awards totaling 16,000 stock options. The stock options will vest over 4 years, with 25% vesting on the first anniversary of the hire date and the remainder vesting ratably on each of the subsequent 36 monthly anniversaries of the hire date. This award was made outside of Aerie’s stockholder-approved equity incentive plan and was approved by the company’s independent directors as an inducement material to Johnson entering into employment with the company in reliance on NASDAQ Listing Rule 5635(c)(4), which requires this public announcement.